It’s only a matter of time until the Islanders give up on Brad Isbister. Sure, we’re just eight games into the season, but if there is a player on the Islanders’ roster that’s done absolutely nothing thus far, it’s Isbister.

He’s played primarily on Alexei Yashin’s left wing and in that role scored only one single point, a lucky point at that. Isbister’s lone goal wasn’t even his, but he was the last Islander player to touch the puck before it rattled off the stick of Flyers defenseman Eric Desjardins and off the leg of Marty Murray and past Roman Cechmanek to force a 3-3 tie in Philadelphia last week.

How’s about a game of HORSE?

This was supposed to be Isbister’s year. This was supposed to be the season he puts all his freakish strength, blink-of-an-eye speed and towering size together to form a dynamic left wing to propel the Isles to the next level. We heard about it all summer, how he was disappointed with the way last year went, how his offensive numbers were down. How this year would be different.

Thus far, it’s been much of the same old Izzy.

Take a look at Isbister charging down the left wing boards any night, and you’ll see the same thing over and over and over again. He’ll come down the wing, gain a step on his defenseman and instead of stepping around or going though him, Isbister takes him to the outside and generally pops off a backhand shot that lands safely in the goalie’s pads.

He had a chance to win a game in overtime on a penalty shot, and this is when it became apparent that maybe Isbister doesn’t have the hands necessary to become the premier power winger Mike Milbury would love to see him turn into. All alone on Nashville goalie Tomas Vokoun, Isbister let go a shot the netminder didn’t even have to flinch to save.

Now the question is, will anybody flinch if Isbister finds himself on the trading block?

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Speaking of trades, Milbury was roasted all summer for trading a scorer, Mariusz Czerkawski, off an offensively challenged team for banger Arron Asham.

Asham started off slowly, finding it difficult avoiding Coliseum obstacles such as the blue line and the Re-Max emblem at center ice. He fell asleep on defense early on, but over the last few games, he’s been an asset to the Isles. Playing on a hard-working line with Dave Scatchard and Jason Blake, the three are getting used to each other and Asham is getting more comfortable.

“We’ve got speed, grit,” Asham said. “I think we play well together.”

And going into last night, Asham and Czerkawski – who is now a fourth-liner in Montreal – were tied with one empty- net goal apiece.